>>5864782Seeing no reason not to join in on the festivities, you decide to clean yourself up and embrace the madness. As you watch an almost incomprehensible amount of food and drink being brought into the manse, Corrine assures you that most of the goods were “liberated” from the Imperial Army. Damian’s backyard is sprawling, with enough room to fit all the Blackwings and then some. Being the seat of the Empire, it’s no surprise that Enbarr’s nobles live in such extravagant homes. You find the man of the house hard at work, instructing several mercenaries on the intricacies of dining utensils. Upon spotting you, he drops the oyster fork to the table and greets you warmly.
“Blair!” Damian wraps you in a hug. Such behavior being uncharacteristic of him, you at first believe the man to be drunk, but upon further inspection your former classmate is as sober as a stone. “You’re awake! Thank the Goddess!”
>“Damian, congratulations on securing your home. I’m glad you could return to Enbarr triumphantly.”“Thank you, Blair.” He shoos the thought away with a handwave. “It won’t undo the damage that bastard Hubert wrought. And it won’t bring my family back. But at the very least, I’m glad I could reclaim our ancestral home. It’s just a shame I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to wring that little cretin’s neck myself. I hear that honor went to our dear Professor.”
>“Don’t fret over it too much.” You calm the mage down. “I for one am grateful that you didn’t kill Hubert. If you had, you might not have had the time to help me out. I understand you were the one that led the Meteor Storm on the Hellwings. That was the turning point of our battle. If it hadn’t been for that, we’d have suffered far greater casualties. We might have even lost.”“As if.” Damian snorts. “You’d have found a way to triumph. You’re good at that. Obnoxiously so, even. All I did was lend a small helping hand. Tell me, is it true Kate was the one that struck you down?”
>As if being reminded that you were still injured, you wince in pain. “Evidently, she’s been working out. She finished me in one blow.”“Truly?” Damian’s eyes widen in shock. “That’s a shame. I always thought she was kind of cute.”
>“Maybe you should have tried talking to her in class instead of being your typical pompous noble.” You taunt Damian. “If you’d only managed to woo her over to our side, I wouldn’t have been lying on my ass in a bed for three days with a gaping hole in my chest.”“How much more must I do to get you to forget about my younger days?” Damian winces. “Besides, I seem to recall a certain Black Eagle that was gored by the Lance of Ruin. Face it, Blair, you simply have an unhealthy habit of being impaled. Frankly…it’s unbecoming."
>“You may have a point.” You laugh heartily. “So then, what’s next for you now that the Empire’s fallen?” 